Spain is a beautiful country that is on the list of every traveller looking for the perfect European summer. But, like every other country, you need a visa to see this beauty as well. To ensure that tourists are not deterred from applying for a Spanish visa, the Spanish authorities have refused claims about discrimination. Claiming, THIS is the reason why some people have to wait longer for approval.
Spain Refutes Ethnic Discrimination Allegations For Visa
The recent allegations against Spain come while the Netherlands is under accusation of using algorithms to profile nationals of other countries. Responding to this, Spain visa officials have refuted these allegations made against them as well.
As per reports by the Schengen visa info website, An investigation done by Lighthouse Reports and the NRC brought the whole ordeal to light. The Netherlands is allegedly using an illegal algorithm to identify visa applicants based on their ethnicity. The report also disclosed that the country had been using the said algorithm since 2015.
Giving an official statement to SchengenVisaInfo.com, the spokesperson from the Diplomatic Information Office of Spain claimed that no special algorithm was used to profile applicants. The official also said to the publication that applicants are considered when applying for a Schengen or national visa.
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Visa Approval Time Is Not Based On Ethnicity
Without taking into account their ethnicity, gender, age, and economic background. In addition, when asked why some applicants take longer to get approved than others, the official said it has nothing to do with ethnicity. The long waiting period is due to the high volume of applicants the office receives, claimed the report.
Currently, all Non-EU nationals without a visa-free travel agreement with Schengen Area member states must have a visa to enter the bloc. Ethnicity-based discrimination is not only a severe allegation but also has dire effects in terms of tourism for a country.
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Applicants who were looking forward to applying to such countries may be demotivated due to fear of being singled out. This would in turn affect the number of tourists visiting the vacation destinations. Have you ever faced discrimination while applying for a visa for any country? How did you deal with it?
Let us know in the comments.
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